Pandemic linked to low voter registration turnout in Iloilo town

By Flory Ann Tacuban

As of June 2021, only 162 individuals in Tubungan, Iloilo have so far registered as new voters for the 2022 National and Local Elections.

The new registrants were approved by the Election Registration Board (ERB) in a hearing last April 19.

The previous number of registered new voters in 2019 was 4,626, pushing the number of new voters to 4,788.

Registration and other voter-related applications are not automatically granted, according to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

The ERB in each applicable district, city, and municipality must approve or disapprove registrations. The board is required by Republic Act 8189 (Voter’s Registration Act of 1996) to deliberate the registrations every quarter for its approval or otherwise.

Mildred Sapul, COMELEC Election Officer II of Tubungan, said the low number of registrants could be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic impeded the conduct of special satellite registration, which should be conducted in barangay halls, public/private schools, commercial establishments and other public places within the city/municipality to ensure wider voter participation.

“Supposedly we are doing Satellite Registration Office (SRO) in every barangay but the DOH (Department of Health) permits us only to visit barangays that has zero COVID cases within the 14-day period, this makes it difficult for us to reach potential voters and help them register,” Sapul said.

SROs are supposed to bring COMELEC services to barangays but the pandemic hindered the poll body’s movements.

According to Sapul, the Municipal Health Officer did not issue a certification that the virus has been contained as some barangays still have active cases.

“We are trying to reach out far flung barangays and since our locality is a Geographically Disadvantaged Area which means Indigenous Cultural Communities needs help as they lack access to government services because of location, we plan to bridge the gap in between but sadly we can’t go unless the barangay is cleared of COVID cases,” Sapul added.

Border control restrictions, fare price hike and the fear of contracting the virus are also the reasons for the low registration turnout among possible new applicants.

NEW SCHEDULE

To accommodate more voters, the COMELEC Tubungan changed its schedule from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday, with the new schedule of operations to cater to more registrants for the May 2022 elections.

Sapul said the COMELEC central office announced last February that its offices nationwide would now conduct voter registration from Tuesday to Saturday, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate those who are working.

All types of voter-related registration applications are accepted, including new registration (both regular and Sangguniang Kabataan), change or correction of entries (for misspelled names, incorrect birth dates, or gender), transfer of registration record, reactivation of registration record, inclusion of registration record, and reinstatement of name in the voter list.

Certificates of Voter Registration are also issued by COMELEC.

Sapul emphasized that voter registration at the COMELEC office is secure since they adopted various safeguards to avoid COVID-19. They also ensured that staff and clients adhere to safety and health protocols as well as the strict implementation of minimum public health standards.

The COMELEC also met with the Punong Barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan chairs to solicit their help in encouraging residents in their respective barangays to register.

SPECIAL REGISTRATION DATES

The Commission on Elections designated a special registration period for women and girls across the country from March 9 to 11, 2021.

Sapul explained that the arrangement was a gift to women and girls in honor of National Women’s Month and International Women’s Day last March 8th.

“In our locality we have more women voters than men voters, which is why we recognized women clients by giving free facemask and sanitizer to those who availed services at the Comelec Office and registered,” Sapul explained.

The Commission on Elections-Gender and Development (COMELEC-GAD) office also set aside particular days for men to receive preferential treatment.

A three-day special registration for men and boys was held last June 21-23, 2021 which coincided with Fathers’ Day. The first 15 male registrants received a facemask and hand sanitizer from the poll office.

“We gave out facemasks and sanitizer again because this is helpful to the residents especially in the time of pandemic. We are hoping that through this little token, male registrants may come over at the office and register,” Sapul said.

IREHISTRO ONLINE PORTAL

Voters signing up for the 2022 elections or those fixing their registration details may now submit their applications through the Commission on Elections website.

COMELEC’s iRehistro, which last updated on November 23, allows eligible Filipino voters to submit online application forms.

The iRehistro portal collects a person’s full name, date and place of birth, sex, civil status, citizenship details, and address from new applicants. It also requires disclosure for registered senior citizens, persons with disability, indigenous, or illiterate.

At the end of the form, a person may set an appointment on when to visit the local COMELEC office to provide their biometrics such as fingerprints and signatures to prevent data leaks.

“This program is good and beneficial to those who have internet access at home but for others who are living in far flung areas of our municipality I don’t think that they can utilize this fully because of the glitching internet signal due to connectivity issues in some barangays, hopefully some can register especially the youth who are tech savvy,” Sapul said.

MOBILE REGISTRATION APP

In an Inquirer report last June 15, the COMELEC launched a mobile application that aims to streamline voter registration process. This can be accessed even offline. Once installed, the user may already apply for voter registration without the need for internet connectivity.

“The launch of mobile app is very timely in the face of mobility restrictions brought about by the pandemic because you only need a smartphone to accomplish the form. This will save time, effort and money than going to local Comelec Office and fill out manually,” Commissioner Casquejo said in a press release.

“A QR code is generated upon successful accomplishment of the form, one must save the QR Code on your smartphone and afterwards you may visit the local COMELEC office to have your QR code scanned and your biometrics taken,” Casquejo added.

SK INITIATIVES

As the COMELEC rolls out programs and plans to guarantee maximum voter registrant participation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they hope to register more applicants before the deadline this year with the help of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).

“We are doing all our best together with the SK to encourage new voters to register and even within the pandemic, there will still be an Election 2022 and young people should register to exercise their right to vote,” Sapul said.

Recognizing the youth as a powerful political force for change, the Sangguniang Kabataan Municipal Federation (SKMF) of Tubungan headed by president Mark Joshua Tacsagon, and the COMELEC led some youth initiatives such as Voter’s Education.

It seeks to address low voter registrant turnout by providing Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials to encourage the youth not just to register but to spread awareness to be actively involved in campaigns.

“In our town, the young voters account to almost half of the voting population, and exercising the right to suffrage is the important contribution of the youth in shaping the country’s future which is why we decided to do a Voter’s Education Campaign as one of our projects for the youth,” Tacsagon said.

INSIGHTS OF A FIRST-TIME REGISTRANT

In an online interview with first time registrants, the youth of Tubungan, Iloilo said they went out of the comfort of their homes and registered for the upcoming national and local elections.

Zynnie Rose Zaragosa, a BA in Political Science student of West Visayas State University said that she personally went to the COMELEC to register.

Zaragosa described the process as very systematic, simple, easy and fast.  They were accommodated very well and there was already a sample filled up application form to guide them.

She shared that she felt good as she was about to become one of the driving forces of democracy.

“I believe that collectively, the youth have the capacity to be a powerful political force that is suited to our present political situation right now. The youth comprise more than 40% of the country’s population. So, if we unite for a certain cause, or direct our energy for the improvement of the Philippines we can change something, we’ll have that power to make those in power believe that the youth are more than just the youngsters of the generation, but also the defining force that draws what future the country is leading to. Apart from being active in political engagements in social media, we should also be active in civic movements,” according to Jerome Tacardon, a BA in Statistics student of University of the Philippines Visayas.

Sharaine Ghail Taaca of Tyempo Naton Movement, invited her fellow youth to register and exercise their right to vote less than a year from now.

Taaca said voting is one way of sustaining a democratic society.

“And if the youth can help others to see the value in voting and exercising our rights, then they can have a future where they no longer deem themselves as mere citizens and youth of the Philippines but also a population that defines who becomes the leaders. Gaining the right to vote, is also gaining the right to be part of this country’s development,” she added.

(The author is a Communication and Media Studies student of UP Visayas)